Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Integration and Minority Information Service of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights

• Interview with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks
• Chas prints an interview with a Brazilian national who lives in Latvia

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks. According to Mr Muzinieks, economic crisis impacted human rights in many countries and the most of all it impacted socially economic, civil and political rights. The most vulnerable groups impacted by crisis are children, disabled persons, elder people, immigrants, refugees, and Roma, believes the Commissioner.

Chas prints an interview with a Brazilian Thiago who immigrated to Latvia from Brazil. According to Thiago, he met various people while living in Latvia, both ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians and does not see any big difference between them. But the thing what really surprised Thiago was that there are ethnic Latvians and Russians who do not love this country. Thiago is involved in the international project AMITIE funded by the EU and conducted in Latvia by the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and the Department of Education, Sports and Culture of the Riga City Council. The AMITIE informative campaign “This is my story… or our?” informs the society about positive aspects of migration stressing the contribution of immigrants in economic, social and cultural development of the state.

More about the AMITIE project on http://www.facebook.com/AMITIEproject?ref=hl and http://cilvektiesibas.org.lv/lv/media-materials/notiks-informativas-kampanas-sis-ir-mans-stasts-va-223/ (in Latvian)

Yours sincerely,
Integration Monitor